Forget needing a franchise-type quarterback to win a Super Bowl; with the passing boom around the NFL, it now requires a potential top-flight passer just to get into the playoffs. Rookie and second-year stars have risen around the league, and guys who have been around a while are working on their best seasons yet.

If 2011 was supposed to be the year of the quarterback, this season has been something like The Godfather Part II—a superior sequel with more compelling story lines. This week, the Colts and Redskins are big movers as the teams take their best aims on playoff berths.

(AP Photos/SN Illustration)

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32. Kansas City Chiefs (Last week: 32)

Quarterback: Brady Quinn

Quinn doesn’t have much with which to work, and he’s simply playing out the string in place of Matt Cassel before the Chiefs invest a 2013 first-round pick on their next attempt at a true franchise quarterback.

(Charlie Riedel/AP)

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31. Oakland Raiders (29)

Quarterback: Carson Palmer

The yardage and high volume of attempts have been there all season, but he keeps slipping in efficiency and decision-making. He turns over the ball too much for his experience, and the Raiders need to start thinking young.

(Al Behrman/AP)

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30. Jacksonville Jaguars (31)

Quarterback: Chad Henne

With Blaine Gabbert officially on the shelf for the season, Henne can take full advantage of the situation to possibly take away the starting job for good next year. He’s done well so far in two games of extended action.

(John Raoux/AP)

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29. Philadelphia Eagles (28)

Quarterback: Nick Foles

At this point, why go back to Michael Vick, even if he’s deemed healthy to return from his concussion? They might as well get a long look at Foles to see if he has a chance to stick as a starter next season.

(Mel Evans/AP)

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28. Carolina Panthers (30)

Quarterback: Cam Newton

There have been a lot more positives from Newton’s second season than many might think. He’s starting to work himself completely out of a sophomore slump with more confidence, better play-calling and a favorable closing schedule.

(Mel Evans/AP)

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27. Tennessee Titans (25)

Quarterback: Jake Locker

The Titans have held him back a bit for his second season of development. Even if it comes with more mistakes, they need to let him loose as a passer and selective runner to get a full idea of his ceiling.

(Stephen Morton/AP)

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26. New York Jets (22)

Quarterback: Mark Sanchez

It’s past the point of no return: the Jets might as well stick with Sanchez to see if there’s anything left to salvage for the near future. With the news that Tim Tebow got battered, there is no better option until the draft.

(Julio Cortez/AP)

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25. St. Louis Rams (26)

Quarterback: Sam Bradford

Bradford has had a bit of a roller-coaster season, looking smooth in some games and looking lost in others. When he’s going well, it’s usually tied to prolific hard running from Steven Jackson and long catches from Chris Givens.

(Ross D. Franklin/AP)

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24. Arizona Cardinals (21)

Quarterback: Ryan Lindley

John Skelton is looking pretty good now, isn’t he? By throwing in the raw rookie behind their porous offensive line, at least Skelton is spared the abuse while Lindley keeps throwing to the other team.

(Ross D. Franklin/AP)

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23. Buffalo Bills (23)

Quarterback: Ryan Fitzpatrick

There’s some finger-pointing in terms of whether Chan Gailey is calling the right plays for him, and whether he should have more control. Whatever’s going on, the passing results aren’t there in key games.

(AJ Mast/AP)

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22. Cleveland Browns (27)

Quarterback: Brandon Weeden

Weeden has put the Browns’ passing game on the map despite a receiving corps in progress, so it’s unfortunate he was knocked out with a concussion in the biggest win of his rookie season.

(Tony Dejak/AP)

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21. San Diego Chargers (20)

Quarterback: Philip Rivers

Rivers has struggled with turnovers as his supporting cast has been inconsistent and his protection keeps crumbling. Next season, he will likely need to overcome not having coach/play-caller Norv Turner behind him.

(Denis Poroy/AP)

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20. Detroit Lions (19)

Quarterback: Matthew Stafford

Stafford is starting to deal again, and Detroit has found a little production in the running game as well. Unfortunately, the Lions’ liability in pass defense puts undue pressure on Stafford to survive through a ton of dropbacks.

(Rick Osentoski/AP)

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19. New Orleans Saints (16)

Quarterback: Drew Brees

When the running game isn’t there and the offensive line is beat up, even the mighty, cool Brees can be stifled by a defense that brings good pressure up the middle. He has little time to recover for the rival Falcons.

(AP Photo)

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18. Miami Dolphins (24)

Quarterback: Ryan Tannehill

It’s no wonder that when the Dolphins revived their running game and their receivers became bigger factors, that it benefited Tannehill in getting a much-needed win against a tough Seattle defense.

(Gerry Broome/AP)

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17. Minnesota Vikings (12)

Quarterback: Christian Ponder

First he lost Percy Harvin to an ankle injury, and just when he got back into a groove with Kyle Rudolph, the tight end got banged up. The Vikings must add a bona fide big No. 1 wideout to help Ponder in 2013.

(Nam Y. Huh/AP)

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16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (15)

Quarterback: Josh Freeman

Because of Freeman’s big arm and wide array of offensive skill support, they have a chance to be a most dangerous wild-card team if they get in. The problem is, with their pass defense, he’ll need to keep winning shootouts.

(Brian Blanco/AP)

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15. Dallas Cowboys (13)

Quarterback: Tony Romo

Romo is doing his best to put the offense on his back with line issues, running back woes and receiver injuries. His desire to try to do everything for them, sometimes too much, is admirable but that’s where his mistakes happen.

(Matt Strasen/AP)

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14. Washington Redskins (18)

Quarterback: Robert Griffin III

The first half of the season was all about Griffin getting his feet wet while he was allowed to make good use of his legs. The second half has been more about his arm and accuracy, and a reminder that he’s an ace passer above else.

(Matt Strasen/AP)

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13. Seattle Seahawks (10)

Quarterback: Russell Wilson

Wilson has been a different rookie passer when he’s playing on the road and inside the NFC West. He’ll face plenty of heat returning back to the Midwest to take on the swarming Bears defense.

(Wilfredo Lee/AP)

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12. Cincinnati Bengals (17)

Quarterback: Andy Dalton

Dalton could have been confused with more of a caretaker type as a rookie. Now that he’s more seasoned, he’s been let loose and the results have been dazzling. With every big game, he gets more confident, just in time for the stretch.

(Tom Uhlman/AP)

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11. Pittsburgh Steelers (8)

Quarterback: Charlie Batch

Looking at the way that Batch and Byron Leftwich have struggled to do anything with their offense, they need Ben Roethlisberger back as soon as possible to keep from sinking out of the playoff race.

(Tony Dejak/AP)

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10. Indianapolis Colts (14)

Quarterback: Andrew Luck

The Colts are in control of one AFC wild-card spot. For them to keep it, Luck needs to steady his hand on the road. Facing the Lions’ defense in Detroit is a good chance to stamp his already impressive rookie season.

(Michael Conroy/AP)

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9. Green Bay Packers (7)

Quarterback: Aaron Rodgers

Rodgers is getting knocked around, and that’s causing the Packers’ passing game to look ugly of late. It doesn’t help that he has little semblance of balance from the running game.

(Julio Cortez/AP)

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8. Chicago Bears (11)

Quarterback: Jay Cutler

For all those who still criticize Cutler, look at how anemic the Bears’ offense was without him behind a shoddy offensive line. He makes the most of what he has around him with his arm and athleticism.

(Nam Y. Huh/AP)

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7. New York Giants (9)

Quarterback: Eli Manning

Not surprisingly, Manning and the Giants looked Super sharp coming out of a bye against Green Bay. It’s good timing, just before a potential prime-time shootout with the Redskins on the road.

(Bill Kostroun/AP)

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6. Denver Broncos (6)

Quarterback: Peyton Manning

He had a bit of an off game against Kansas City, but he delivered TD passes when they counted. He knows he doesn’t have to do too much with his defense playing so well—a luxury he didn’t have late in his Colts days.

(Ed Zurga/AP)

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5. Atlanta Falcons (4)

Quarterback: Matt Ryan

Ryan rebounded nicely against the Buccaneers, and can build on that in an important duel with Drew Brees on Thursday. It’s a chance to take care of the NFC South and keep their eyes toward the bigger prize of a playoff win.

(Chris O'Meara/AP)

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4. New England Patriots (5)

Quarterback: Tom Brady

There’s really nothing that can slow Brady and their passing offense, and he stayed ablaze against the Jets despite not having a healthy Rob Gronkowski. He can pass them all the way to the Super Bowl again.

(Julio Cortez/AP)

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3. Baltimore Ravens (3)

Quarterback: Joe Flacco

Flacco sparked the comeback against the Chargers, and the Ravens realized it also was a good time to give him more help from Ray Rice. Now it’s on Flacco to put another division title away at home against the Steelers.

(Denis Poroy/AP)

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2. San Francisco 49ers (2)

Quarterback: Colin Kaepernick

Kaepernick is just scratching the surface of his potential as a dynamic all-around quarterback. Let’s hope he keeps starting, because it will be fun to see what he can do against the Patriots in three weeks.

(Bill Feig/AP)

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1. Houston Texans (1)

Quarterback: Matt Schaub

Schaub continues to be clutch in the fourth quarter and overtime, helping the Texans overcome some defensive issues. There¹s no doubt this team excels at closing now, even when some things aren¹t going right.